Guwahati, June 1: Deposed Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul, who is the prime accused in the cash-for-jobs scam, today refused to undergo narco-analysis and polygraph tests.

Assam police had sought permission from a special court to conduct the narco-analysis and polygraph tests on Paul in connection with case number 145/2017 registered in Dispur police station. The case was registered in January on the basis of a complaint lodged by Arup Kumar Nath, who alleged that he had paid Rs 3 lakh to Paul in 2012 as the first instalment of a bribe to get a government job.

The police wanted to conduct the tests on Paul as they suspect that he is hiding vital information pertaining to the case, which was registered under Sections 420 and 406 of the IPC and other relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

When produced before special judge, Assam, A. Bhattacharyya, Paul did not agree to undergo the two tests. Paul's lawyers also submitted a written objection to the petition filed by the police.

The court fixed June 9 as the date for passing its order regarding this case.

In 2010, the Supreme Court made it clear that narco-analysis and polygraph tests cannot be conducted on any person without their consent. The apex court further stated that even if a person consented to these tests the same shall not be used as evidence in court, which means the results of the tests can only be used to corroborate the evidence the police already have or to get more leads into the case.

A polygraph test in common terms is referred to as a lie-detector test. The test tries to ascertain whether a person is telling the truth or lying by studying the subject's heartbeat, pulse and also eye movements.

During narco-analysis, the accused is administered a drug that supposedly leads him to divulge information.

The special court today also extended Paul's judicial custody by 14 more days in connection with case number 936/16 registered in Dibrugarh police station. This case was registered against him under Sections 7/13(1)(b)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 120B and 420 of the IPC for allegedly taking bribe from job aspirants to unfairly clear them in recruitment exams for different state government jobs conducted by the APSC.

Paul was arrested in connection with the Dibrugarh police station case in November last year and has been in judicial custody in Guwahati central jail ever since.